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Gardeners willing to put time and effort into training a wisteria tree will end up with a whimsical, flowering focal point for their landscape. Training a wisteria vine into a tree shape, also called a standard, is not difficult, but it requires consistency and vigilance to end up with a sturdy, aesthetically pleasing specimen. Wisteria grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. For best results, start training the wisteria when it is young and consists of thin, pliable stems.

Drive a 4-by-4-inch wooden post 12 inches into the ground with a mallet. Position the post 1 to 3 inches away from the base of the young wisteria vine. Use a post that is 12 inches longer than the desired height of the wisteria tree's trunk. For example, for a 48-inch tall tree trunk, you would use a 60-inch post. The extra 12 inches will anchor the post underground.

Select the most vigorous main stem of the wisteria to become the tree's trunk. Remove all side shoots from along this stem with a pair of pruning shears. Make each cut 1/4 inch above where the side shoot joins the main stem to avoid causing damage.

Place the stem against the nearest side of the post. Tie a cloth strip around the stem and post to begin the staking process. Tie the cloth tight enough to provide support to the stem but loose enough to allow the stem some natural movement and room to expand. Continue to tie the stem to the post, securing it in place every 8 inches with an additional tie. Position the stem in a straight, vertical line up the post, being careful not to twist or bend it into an unnatural position.

Allow the stem time to grow to the top of the post. Tie the stem to the post as it grows, spacing the ties 8 inches apart. Cut off side shoots that develop on the bottom two-thirds of the stem. Adjust old ties as needed, loosening them to allow room for expansion of the stem's circumference.

Cut off the top of the main stem once it reaches the top of the post. Make the cut just above a growth node with a pair of pruning shears. Allow the resulting side shoots at the top of the stem to grow and develop.

Cut off the tips of the lateral branches once they develop six to seven leaves. Make the cut just above the petiole, or stem, of the leaf. This will encourage additional lateral shoots to develop and fill out the top of the tree. Keep the wisteria's trunk below the point of branching free from side shoots.

Prune out any dead, crossing or crowded branches in the late winter when the wisteria is dormant. Prune back all side shoots in the tree's canopy to a length of 12 inches. Check and retie any cloth strips that have become too tight around the trunk.

Things You Will Need

4-by-4-inch wooden post

Mallet

Pruning shears

Cloth ties

Warning

Do not wind the main stem around the support post as it grows. This will result in a weakly stemmed tree, unable to support future growth.